(Two and half month later)
Dimitri and Tasha arrived earlier at the academy for Christian graduation. Tasha wants to surprise Christian by coming to his graduation from the academy. Dimitri informs Tasha that he needs to report to Guardian Petrov." Tasha asked, "Why do you need to report to Guardian Petrov?" Dimitri said, " All guardians have to follow the rules set by the academy and guardians." Tasha said, "Alright, I'll go ahead and sign us in at the office as visitors." Then I am going to see Christian and Vasilisa. Come find me when you're done. Tasha heads to the main office to sign both in as visitors and stay until Christian and Vasilisa's graduation. I did not know that Jasmine and Rose's trials were today before graduation for the Moroi.
Dimitri came around the corner to find Jasmine, Christian, Vasilisa, Rose, and Eddie coming across the ground together, heading to the feeder building. Dimitri knew that he needed to talk to Jasmine about what happened two days after they arrived back at the academy with Tasha. He was trying to understand why she didn't come to see him in his dreams.
Christian opens the door for Jasmine, Rose, Eddie, and Vasilisa to walk through. Dimitri called out to Jasmine! I need to talk to you. "Christian closes the door in Dimitri's face and gives him a smirk. "Dimitri thought to himself, "Damn you, Christian." Dimitri opens the door, walks inside, and sees them heading to the desk.
A woman at the front desk was reading a book. When Jasmine, Christian, and Vasilisa walked up to the desk, waiting for someone to arrive to start their day off, Jasmine said, "Good Morning." The woman looked up and saw Jasmine, Christian, and Vasilisa and said Good Morning. Please sign in. Whom would you like to see this morning? Jasmine said, "Alice." Christian and Vasilisa agree with Alice in the private room in the back. Christian started writing his name first, Jasmine signed in, and last was Vasilisa. The woman said, "A few minutes and Alice will be ready with you three."
Jasmine slowly turned to face Dimitri and said, "Hello! Guardian Belikov. "What can I help you with today? " Dimitri could see that Jasmine had a guardian mask on and was trying not to show her emotions. Rose and Eddie step in next to them. Dimitri looked into Jasmine's eyes and saw the light brown with gold flicks in them. Dimitri said, "I need to speak to you about something important."
A woman said, "Alice is ready for you." Jasmine said, "Thank you! Come on, Pyro and Vasilisa! "Breakfast is calling. " Jasmine turned away and started walking away, leaving Dimitri standing there. Rose and Eddie push past him, heading to the private room in the back.
Dimitri followed them down the hallway to the last room. Jasmine, Vasilisa, and Christian went inside. Meanwhile, Rose and Eddie turn to put their backs to the door and cross their arms over their chests.
Dimitri started going into the room. Eddie said, "Stop! You are not allowed to enter on Captin Alberta's orders. If you have a problem with it, take it up to her. Rose said, "You're not our mentor anymore." "You can't tell what to do anymore." Dimitri said, "Roza please." Rose's guardian mask started to slip. To hear Rose call out her old nickname, Dimitri pushed Rosa and Eddie out of the way and entered the room. Eddie said, "Asshole!
When Dimitri enters the room, he sees Jasmine, Vasilisa, and Christian talking to Alice. Alice looked up at Jasmine and Christian, standing on either side of her, giving them a big smile. Who did you bring with you today? Jasmine spoke in a soft and calm voice. Christian, Vaslisa, and Jasmine turn their heads to look at Dimitri. Jasmine turned back to Alice and said in a sweet voice, "This is Guardian Belikov." Alice said, "Does he not know the rules?" Christian asked, "Which rule is that Alice? Alice said, "The door has to be locked to keep the secret safe." Jasmine said, "You are so right, Alice." The secret must be kept safe from everyone. Dimitri turned around and locked the door, understanding they always locked the door to keep others from finding out about Jasmine.
Jasmine pulled the chair over and sat down next to Alice. Alice peered over at Jasmine, giving Jasmine a big smile. Jasmine asked if she was ready. Alice said, "Just take your time." "Sweetheart! "Jasmine opens her mouth, and a few seconds later, Jasmine's fangs come down. Alice smiled at Jasmine. Alice reached out with an arm, giving her wrist to Jasmine. Jasmine reached up and took Alice's wrist in her hands. Just use fangs to bite down into Alice's skin to get blood flow. Jasmine closed her mouth down on Alice's wrist and started drinking from her.
The rush of bliss and joy poured through Alice's body. It was so sweet. This was a hundred times better than any Moroi bite could be. Alice started moaning and enjoying the rush. Jasmine is a little longer than normal. Christian said, "Someone is hungry today." Vasilisa said, "Leave her alone and let her eat her breakfast." Besides, today is a special day for all Dhampier students with their trials. Are we all going together? Christian said, "Yes! I want to be their cheerleader, my friend, while they go through their trials.
Dimitri didn't know that Rose and Jasmine's trials were today. Knowing Jasmine would be gone from the academy soon. Jasmine pulled back with blood on her lips and used her tongue to lick the blood. Jasmine stood up and stepped out of the way for Vasilisa to have her turn with Alice. Christian was on the other side of Alice and biting down on Alice's neck. To keep the rush from continuing for Alice, Jasmine reached for the wipes and started to clean her mouth and fangs.
Jasmine said, "Is Uncle Adrain running the bets on which students will make it?" "Christian said, "Yes!" Who is going to go fast? Jasmine said, "Mark me down for $100 dollars for Rose, Eddie, or I hit the mark." Dimitri said, "Baby girl!" Jasmine turned to look at Dimitri and said, "What?" Vasilissa said, "You bet on one person." Jasmine said, "$100 dollars for myself." Christian said, I betting on you anyway.
Dimitri knew a few things had changed with Jasmine and should have been here with her. He hated himself for leaving her behind to face it alone. "Thinking damn you, Tasha, why did you compel me now I have to be your guardian for two years." "Dimitri moved closer to Jasmine and could smell that Jasmine's scent hadn't changed from the log cabin. That means that she hasn't fucked anyone yet.
"Remembering Grandmother said the scent would disappear after the bond was made." He knew that he still had time to make a bond with her before he had to leave with Tasha again. " Dimitri started to wipe from Jasmine and started helping clean Jasmine's fangs and lips. Seeing Jasmine's fangs weren't long Moroi fangs and watching them move back to her gums was. Dimitri put wipes in the trash.
(trials)
It was early evening, but late summer still found the sun up in the Montana sky, bathing us in golden light as we walked through grass that had turned bright green with summer's touch. Dimitri was following them, listening to their talk about college and how Vasilisa was going to action no different. But Jasmine was staying quiet, looking around and not paying any attention.
"Dimitri thought, what is going on in your mind? You were never so quiet unless you were worried about your trials. " Ahead of us, the roar of a crowd grew louder. One of the school's many sports fields had been transformed into an arena on par with something from the Roman gladiatorial days. The bleachers had been built up, expanding from simple wooden seats to luxuriously cushioned benches with awnings to shade the Moroi from the sun.
Banners surrounded the field, their bright colors visible from here as they whipped in the wind. I couldn't see them yet, but I knew there would be some type of barracks built near the stadium's entrance where novices waited, nerves on edge. The field itself would have turned into an obstacle course of dangerous tests. And from the sound of those deafening cheers, plenty were already there to witness this event.
Our attempts were interrupted by Stan, one of our longtime instructors. "Hathaway twins and Castile!" Stan barked, coming from the direction of the field. "Nice of all of you to join us. Get in there now! "
Christian, Vasilisa, hugging Rose, Jasmine, and Eddie. Stan said, "Good God." Stan's expression told us that this ten-second goodbye was ten seconds too long. Dimitri leads Eddie, Rose, and Jasmine inside, passing right in front of Stan. "You're lucky you aren't one of the first ones," Stan growled. People were even making bets about whether you would both pass your trials. Jasmine wasn't paying Stan any mind. Dimitri thought Jasmine was so calm and relaxed.
We entered the waiting area adjacent to the field, across from the stands. It had always amazed us in past years how much work went into these trials, and Rose and Jasmine were no less impressed now as we saw it up close. The barrack that novices waited in was constructed out of wood, complete with a roof.
The structure looked as though it had been part of the stadium forever. It had been built with remarkable speed and would be taken down equally quickly once the trials were over. A doorway about three people wide gave a partial glimpse of the field, where one of my classmates was waiting anxiously for her name to be called. All sorts of obstacles were set up there, challenges to test balance and coordination while still having to battle and elude the adult guardians who would be lurking around objects and corners. Wooden walls had been constructed at one end of the field, creating a dark and confusing maze. Nets and shaky platforms hung across other areas, designed to test just how well we could fight under difficult conditions.
A few of the other novices crowded the doorway, hoping to get an advantage by watching those who went ahead of them. Rose and Jasmine would go in there blind, content to take on whatever they threw before us. Studying the course now would simply make me overthink and panic. Calm was what we needed now. Eddie wants to see what is going on. Moving away from them. So Rose leaned against one of the barrack walls and watched those around her. Jasmine started stretching. Dimitri was watching Jazz pull her leg over her head. She was found to be very flexible.
When Alberta and Janine walked inside, they walked up to Dimitri. Alberta could see Jasmine was doing a back-bend. Alberta reaches out and taps Jasmine's belly. Jasmine stood back up and reached out, taking the ear pods out of her ears.
Alberta said, "Jasmine is the only novice with a silver stake." You will not be using it. Please hand it over. Jasmine reached down to her backpack, reached inside and pulled out her silver stake. All the other novices stopped talking and watched as Jasmine had a silver stake. Jasmine stood up and handed it to Alberta.
Alberta looked down at it and could see a pattern of ivy around the top. Alberta asked, "How did you get this silver stake?" Jasmine said, "Guardian Blacken on the night four years ago." "Alberta knew that her mate had given Jasmine his stake and she had had all this time. Rose, Dimitri, Janine, and Jasmine could see Alberta was lost in deep thought. Jasmine reached out and touched Alberta's hand, asking if everything was alright. Alberta said, "Yes! Just a few memories from a long time ago. "
Alberta put Jasmine's stake in her belt and said, "You get it back at the end." But until then, you will have to use this practice stake in your trials. Jasmine took the practice stake and looked at it. Jasmine said, "What in hell started a campfire with it?" Everyone was laughing at Jasmine's joke. Alberta said to use it on Stan. Jasmine smiles at the idea.
Janine turned into Jasmine, and Rose said, "You have to take this seriously." "Keep calm and don't get distracted. " Dimitri said, "Guardian Hathaway is right. You keep yourself calm. That means you pointing a finger in Jasmine's face." Jasmine licked her lips and sent a message to Dimitri to tell him that Jasmine was horny again.
"Rosemarie Hathaway!"
It was Alberta who called me, her voice ringing loud and clear. It was like a trumpet, a call to battle. Jasmine said, "Good luck, Rosie." Rose said, "The same to Jasmine." Dimitri and Janine wished Rose good luck on the field. Jasmine knew that her turn was coming soon.
Rose strode toward Alberta and the field. Adrenaline surged through me. All my attention was now focused on what lay ahead: the test that would finally make me a guardian.
Janine and Dimitri turned back to Jasmine, who was standing there looking calm and relaxed. Janine said to Jasmine, "When it comes to your turn. Keep calm and don't get distracted. If you feel your powers coming out, say the word "storm" in Russian. All the guardians will back away unless Stan Alto doesn't listen and follow order. Then take them out fast and move to the next area. Jasmine said, "Yes Mommy."
(Hour later)
"Jasmine Hathaway"
It was Alberta who called Jasmine Hathaway, her voice ringing loud and clear. It was like a trumpet, a call to battle. Jasmine hands her backpack to her mother. Dimitri and Janine wished Jasmine good luck on the field.
Jasmine strode toward Alberta and the field. Adrenaline surged through me. All my attention was now focused on what lay ahead: the test that would finally make me a guardian. Jasmine stopped in front Alberta. Alberta said, "Remember to stay safe word. Jasmine reached up to pull her braids into a ponytail. Alberta said." Good Luck! Jasmine smiled at Alberta and put on her game face.
Dimitri and Janine moved the window to watch Jasmine in her trials. Both Alberta, Dimitri and Janine could see Jasmine's speed and skills being put to the test. Watching guardians have more trouble keeping up with Jasmine and fighting her. Dimitri said, "Roza and Jasmine are going to be the best damn guardians in the world has every seem.
After that challenge came many more, but Jasmine fought on, never slowing down or letting exhaustion affect her. Jasmine slipped into battle mode, and my senses focused on basic instincts: fight, dodge, kill. When it finally ended, Jasmine almost didn't realize it. Jasmine was simply standing there in the middle of the field with no more attackers coming at her. Most of the guardians were hurt or knocked out because of Jasmine.
Jasmine was alone. Slowly, Jasmine became more aware of the world's details. Crowds in the stands were cheering. A few instructors were nodding to each other as they joined the crowd. The pounding of Jasmine own heart was the only thing Jasmine could hear.
It wasn't until a grinning Alberta tugged at Jasmine's upper arm that Jasmine realized it was over. The test I'd waited for my entire life finished in what felt like the blink of an eye. Alberta said,"Come on wrapping her arm around my shoulder and guiding me toward the exit. "You need to get some water and sit down.
Dazed, I let her lead me off the field, around which people were still cheering and crying Jasmime's name. Alberta led her back to the waiting area and gently pushed me onto a bench. Dimitri sat beside me and handed me a bottle of water. I looked over and saw my Dimitri.
Dimitri had an expression on his face of pure, radiant pride. Both Roza and you were out there for almost an hour. Both of you blew through that test with flying colors-probably both of you the best trials this school's ever seen. Jasmine said, "Really?" It all seems hazy and blurry to me. Janine turned to Jasmine and said, "Dimitri and I could not be happier that both of you passed your trials." Jasmine asked, "What now?"
Dimitri and Janine said, "Now you become a guardian."
